Trainer Steve Asmussen stood with his family outside his barn at Saratoga on
Monday morning and watched prized filly RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro) walk
off a van and into the first stall at 8:53 a.m. (EDT).
One of Asmussen’s three sons, Darren, put a kid’s ball cap on his father’s
head, and it perched atop his hair to comic effect.
“He said it isn’t that the hat’s that small; it’s my head’s that big,” Asmussen said.
Asmussen has been practically unstoppable of late and Rachel Alexandra is
racing’s undisputed marquee star. Off her electrifying victory Sunday in the
Haskell Invitational (G1), her options at Saratoga are myriad: the $600,000
Alabama S. (G1) for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on August 22; the $1
million Travers S. (G1) for three-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on August 29; the
$400,000 Personal Ensign S. (G1) for fillies and mares at the same distance the
next day; and the $500,000 Woodward S. (G1) for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8
miles on September 5.
Asmussen said he and owner Jess Jackson are looking for the most important
events possible for Rachel Alexandra, and all four of the Saratoga races are top
shelf. The trainer said a decision likely would not be forthcoming for two
weeks.
“We’ll see how much (the Haskell) took out of her; she’s a very anxious
horse,” he said. “We’ll see how she acts on the track. With Rachel, she is the
topic of conversation all the time.”
Asmussen has full right to be feeling good about himself these days. Hot
Dixie Chick (Dixie Union) won the Schuylerville S. (G3) on opening day. R Clear
Victory (Victory Gallop) took the High Rock Spring S. on Friday. Kensei (Mr.
Greeley) followed Saturday with an authoritative win in the Jim Dandy S. (G2)
and Soul Warrior (Lion Heart) shocked Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine that Bird
(Birdstone) in the West Virginia Derby (G2).
The crowning achievement, however, came Sunday when Rachel Alexandra put away
Belmont S. (G1) winner Summer Bird (Birdstone) and top sprinter Munnings (Speightstown)
to win by six lengths.
With her victories in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), the Mother Goose S. (G1) at
Belmont and defeat of colts in the Preakness S. (G1) and Haskell, Rachel
Alexandra has become racing’s undisputed star. Her homecoming to her current
base at Saratoga, however, had the look of the arrival of a favorite relative.
Once in her stall, she happily accepted the petting of a little girl named
Amelia, who in her other hand held a Tootsie Pop.
Asmussen returned triumphant to Saratoga from Monmouth at 12:30 a.m. and was
out at the barn early. Asked if he felt it was fair that he had to be back to
work after such a towering weekend, he said, “It seems more than fair. We had
some horses train this morning, and we’re at Saratoga. Where else would you want
to be?”
Asmussen reached for superlatives when talking about Rachel Alexandra, who
won Sunday in the slop in a time of 1:47 1/5 for nine furlongs. She has now won
10 races in 13 races, her past eight starts, and four straight Grade 1 events.
“She spoiled us with all her races and yesterday was more of the same,” he
said. “To say you expect that race…is somewhat presumptuous. I very much want to
enjoy what she just did and not think about (what comes) next. We’re sitting
here talking about a three-year-old filly. The thinking (with
Jackson) has been out of the box, that she didn’t have to run just against
fillies. She’s eligible for a vast array of races and we’ll nominate her.”
In another Haskell postscript, trainer Tim Ice reported runner-up SUMMER BIRD
to be in fine shape following Sunday’s race.
“He’s perfect,” Ice said Monday. “We’re leaving tomorrow morning for
Saratoga. The Travers is next for him.
“My horse ran great,” he said of Summer Bird’s Haskell effort. “I can’t say
enough about the winner, she’s unbelievable. I’m proud of my horse, he ran
terrific.”